Rep. Mike Michaud is the Democrats’ best hope of taking back the Maine governship next year. But before the campaign gets fully underway, Michaud wanted to let everyone know what he is gay. In an op-ed that given to two Maine newspapers and the Associated Press, Michaud has come out and then asked, so what?
Michaud, 58, said that he knew his sexual orientation was a potential political issue in the governor’s race. “I wasn’t surprised to learn about the whisper campaigns, insinuations and push-polls some of the people opposed to my candidacy have been using to raise questions about my personal life,” he writes. “They want people to question whether I am gay. Allow me to save them the trouble with a simple, honest answer: “Yes I am. But why should it matter?”
As to why he never said anything sooner, Michaud said, “Growing up in a large Franco-American Catholic family, it’s never been in my nature to talk about myself. I write this now merely to let my opponents and the outside interests who fund them know that I am not ashamed of who I am. And if seeing someone from my background, in my position openly acknowledge the fact that he’s gay makes it a little bit easier for future generations to live their lives openly and without fear, all the better.”
Michaud’s announcement makes him the seventh openly LGBT member of Congress. Apparently, his coming out caught was something of a surprise to that select group. “My #gaydar missed it, but happy to welcome @RepMikeMichaud to team #lgbt,” Rep. Jared Polis tweeted.
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Michaud hopes to challenge incumbent Republican Gov. Paul LePage, a Tea Party favorite who is nuttier than a jar of Jif. Among LePage’s choicer comments was a complaint last July that a state representative “claims to be for the people, but he’s the first one to give it to the people without providing Vaseline.” We can only imagine what further analogies will erupt from LePage now that he’s facing an opponent who would be the first openly gay governor in the nation’s history.
Photo credit: Michaud’s Congressional site.
Caleb in SC
The Tea Party is now synonymous with racism and all other forms of bigotry, i.e., Sarah Palin, Michelle Bachmann, and Ted Cruz. LaPage is cut from the same cloth. Very smart move on Michaud’s part to take this private aspect of his life out of the equation.
JDJase
Holy grammar problems Batman!
“Michaud wanted to let everyone know what he is gay.”
“In an op-ed that given to two Maine newspapers and the Associated Press”
“Apparently, his coming out caught was something of a surprise to that select group.”
You should also review how to form a quote within a quote.
Also, he is now the EIGHTH openly LGBT current member of congress, not the seventh. He is the seventh openly LGBT current member of the HOUSE.
ranger1001
Being an openly gay man, U.S. military veteran, and an independent voter from the State of Maine, I have to say I’m very proud to come from the first state in the nation to have legalized same sex marriage by a vote of the people. And now we may just become the first state to have an openly gay governor. Damn, sometimes it just doesn’t get any better. And even though I’ll totally agree that our current Governor LePage is a big mouth bully at times, I have to grudingly give him a bit of credit at least on the gay marriage issue. He was in office when it was voted in, and even though he publicly did not support the measure, said he would do nothing to fight it if the people decided that’s what they wanted. But I still will be casting my vote for Rep Michaud in next years governor’s race.